Journaling Journey

The new year has begun, and so has the trend to start a journal. My social media feed is flooded with videos of people setting up their bullet journals, decorating pages with calligraphy and stickers, or meticulously planning their goals. There’s something inspiring about the collective desire to organise our lives at the start of the year, reflect on the past, and chart a meaningful path forward.

While bullet journaling is undoubtedly a popular choice, journaling itself is a deeply personal practice. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. For me, journaling isn’t just about productivity or planning—it’s about mindfulness, gratitude, and connection with the world around me.

I was recently reminded of this through a lesson called Jot of Care by Rob Walker, which I heard on the Waking Up app. The idea is simple yet profound: small, intentional acts of writing can help us become more attentive to our surroundings and more appreciative of life’s subtle joys.

For instance, some people use gratitude journals. This practice mirrors Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, which came from his challenge to write about something delightful every day for a year. It’s a beautiful exercise, though not always easy. Finding something to be grateful for daily requires effort at first—it’s like fine-tuning a radar to pick up on joy. But once you get into the rhythm, you realise there’s always something, however small, to appreciate.

Another approach is the luck journal, developed by psychologist Richard Wiseman. In this practice, you note one good thing that happens each day. Over time, this trains your mind to notice and amplify positivity in your life, fostering what some might call "lucky girl syndrome"—the belief that good things always come your way simply because you’re primed to recognise them.

For me, journaling is less about following a strict method and more about blending what works for me. My practice starts in the morning with Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way. Cameron recommends writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness every morning—a mental dump to clear anxieties and make space for creativity. I’ve adapted it to fit my routine: I set a timer for 20 minutes and write as much as I can. I've been doing this since 2021 and it's illuminating to read the things I've written in the past. One thing is for sure: I've evolved as a person and will continually do so.

I also incorporate the Bullet Journal Method for organising tasks and events. But my favourite addition is the done list: a record of what I’ve accomplished daily. It’s a satisfying way to reflect and celebrate small victories, especially on days when progress feels invisible. Unlike a to-do list, which focuses on what’s left undone, a done list reminds me of everything I have achieved. I haven't entirely scraped to-do lists from my repertoire of lists, but I've put less weight on it.

Journaling, no matter the form, encourages mindfulness. Writing regularly sharpens your awareness of life’s details—the sound of Koel birds in the morning, the way the sun lights up the sky, or the warmth of a stranger's smile in a crowded MRT. It’s an invitation to slow down and engage with the world more intentionally.

So, whether you’re diving into a beautifully illustrated bullet journal, scribbling gratitude lists on a notepad, or experimenting with your hybrid method, journaling offers something valuable: a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with the present moment. It’s not just a trend for January—it’s a practice that can bring meaning to the year ahead and beyond.